Steven Croft emerged as a major figure in the Lancashire in 2010 and etched an indelible mark on the county's history in 2011 by hitting the winning runs on the fourth day of the final County Championship match, against Somerset at Taunton, to clinch the county's first outright title in 77 years. It capped a memorable season in which he had also captained Lancashire's one-day side, notably leading them to a place at the Friends Life T20 finals day.

As a batsman, he registered his first one-day hundred - also against Somerset at Taunton - and two in the Championship, including one against Worcestershire on his home ground at Blackpool. He finished the season with 825 runs and took the club's Player of the Year award.

In 2012 he scored 666 runs from 16 matches, including two centuries and two 50s, including a career best 154 not out against Surrey at Guildford in July, a week before his off-spin gained him career best bowling figures of 6 for 41 against Worcestershire at Old Trafford. He also finished among the leading batsmen in domestic one-day cricket in the country and was named in England's provisional 30-man squad for the 2012 World T20.

|He was one of the few players to emerge with reputation largely unscarred from Lancashire relegations in 2012 and 2014 and extended his career-best in the latter season with 156 against the only side to finish below the Red Rose - Northamptonshire.

Croft can also bowl effective medium pace and is a highly proficient fielder at slip or backward point. His growing stature was also illustrated when he became established as understudy to Glen Chapple as Lancashire captain, standing in for him on several occasions.

He made his first-class debut for the county in 2005 as one of the first Academy graduates to be awarded a professional contract. He made rapid progress, particularly in T20, in which he hit the last ball for six to snatch a win over Leicestershire in only his second appearance.

By 2007 he had established himself in the Championship side and was the county's Young Player and senior Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, recording a maiden century against Nottinghamshire (122) in 2008. Venturing abroad, he helped Auckland Aces win the domestic championship in New Zealand in 2008-09.
ESPNcricinfo staff

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